The Irish standard., 1887-11-26


clerk entered hastily. and made some
communication in an undertone, which
brought from my friend disappointed
and impatient expression.
$50 to Wilson, said he, hurrjedly,
and tell him to send me check for
i've hundred without fail, Say that J.
am so short in my bank payments and
| that it is now to late TO get the money
anywhere else. Don't liDgera a moment;
it is twenty five minutes to three now
The clerk departed. he WAS gone
| full ten minutes, during which period
Payson remained at his desk, silent,
but showing noany signs OF uneaslness.
On returning he brought the desired
! check, and was then dispatched to lift
The notes for which this late provision
was made.
What life for man TO lead SAID
my friend with contracted brow and
a. sober face. L sometimes wish NY
self on an island in mia-ocean. You
remember C---?'
Very WELL
lie quit business a year ago and
bought farm. saw him the other
day. sPayson' said he, with an air Of
satisfaction, Z haven't seen bank
notice this twelve months He's 4
happy man! This note-paying is the
curse of ny life. I'm forever on the
stree. finan ng-inanciering How
L hate the work! But come they'll be-
waiting dinner for us. Mrs. Payson is
delighted at the thougt Of seeing you
How long is it since you were here?
About ten years. if I an not mistaken.
You'll find my daughters quite grown
up. Clara is in her twentieth year,
You, OF course recollet her only as p
little schoolgirl. An me! how time
does f1y!'
found my friend living in hand
some house in Franklin street. TWAS
showily-not Observation-Disclosures, and
the same might be said Oh his wife and
daughters, When last dined with
them it was many years before-they
| were living in modest but very corn-
forta BILE way, and the whole air Of their
dwelling was that OF cbeerfulness and
comfort. Now, though their ample
parlors were gay with rich brussels,
crimson damask, and b1obatelle, there
was no genuine home feeling there.
MRS. Fayson, the last time saw he1,
wore a mousse|ine de laine, OF sub
dUed colors, a neat lace collar around
her neck, fastened with q diamond pin,
the marriage gift Of her father. Her
hair, which curled naturally, was drawn
behind her ears in q few gracefully fall
ing ringlets. She needed nc other Or
nament Anything beyond would have
taken from the chiefest of her attrac-
tions, her bright, animated counten~
ance. in which her friends ever read a
hearty welcome.
How changed from this was the ather
stately woman, whose real pleasure at
seeing an old friend Was hardly warm
enough to melt through the ice OF LII
imposed fornality. How changed from
this the pale, cold, worn face, where
selGshness and a false pride had been
dong sad, sad work. All! the rich
Honiton lace cap and costly cape; the
profusion of gay ribbons and the glitter
of jewelry; the ample folds of glossy
satin: how poor a compensation were
they FL the true W oman I had parted
with years ago, and now sought beneath
these snowy adornments in vain!
Two grown up daughters, dressed al
most as nauntingly as their mother,
we're now presented. Tn the artificial
countenance of the Oldest, failed to
discover any trace Of my former friend
Clara.
A little while We talked formally, and
with some constraint all a1uund; then,
as the dinner had been waiting us, and
was now served, we proceeded to the
dung room. I did not feel honored by
The really sumptuous meal the paysons
had provided for their old friend, be-
cause it was clearly TO be seen that no
honor was intended. The honor was
all fol themselves. The ladies had not
adorned their person nor provided their
dinner TO give me welcome and pleas.
IRE, but to exhibit to the eye Of their F;
guest their wealth, luxury and social {
Importance, If | had failed to perceive
his, the conversation Of the Iaysons
would have made 1t plain, for it was Of /
'tyle and elegance in housekeeping and |
lress-Of the ornamental in all its va t
'ieties; and in no Case OF the truly do ,
nestle and useful. Once o. twice re- ,
erred 10 the Wightmans, but the ladies {
Knew nothing OF them, and seemed al ]
most to have forgotten that such per- j
ons ever lived. t
1t did not take me long to discover {
hat, with all the luxury by which my I
riends were surrounded, they were far +
rom being happy. Mrs. Payson and !
Ter daughters had Icould see, become +
nvlous as we'll as proud. They wanted
larger house and more costly furni- l